System and method of simultaneously executing pop e-mailing and chatting, and goods publicity system and method thereby in Internet shopping mall

ABSTRACT

The inventive simultaneously executing post office protocol e-mailing and chatting system comprises a pair of web browsers of the sender and the receiver, the Internet contacting units for connecting to the web browsers, an e-mail server for sending-receiving of e-mail between the sender and the receiver, and a chatting-mailing server for simultaneously post office protocol executing e-mailing and chatting between the sender and the receiver.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system and a method of simultaneously executing POP (Post Office Protocol) e-mailing (hereinafter, “e-mailing”) and chatting, more particularly, to goods publicity system and method using the method of simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting on an Internet shopping mall.

In general, e-mailing and chatting is executed by using wire or wireless network systems thereby the communication between a sender and a receiver is realized. However, there are different operation modes between e-mailing and chatting, one is similar to a letter and the other is similar to a telephone.

More concretely, conventional e-mail send-receive systems such as AOL, ICQ, and so on., are executed by a send-receive operation with only addresses of the sender and the receiver on a header in an e-mail without any special information, and then for chatting, both of the sender and the receiver have to participate in a separated chat group.

Due to the above reason, it is difficult to execute e-mailing and chatting at the same time, so parts of e-mailing and chatting have been limited on the Internet shopping mall.

In other words, in the conventional operation type of the shopping mall, a person holding an administrative position (hereinafter, “host”) response to e-mail inquiry by a customer (hereinafter, “user”) using only e-mail when the user surfing the Internet shopping mall want an information of goods.

However, in the above operation type, in view of the user, it needs a many time to get the information of goods, and the user may quit a purchase of goods when the communication with the host is executed unsuitably by using only e-mail, and further in view of the host, the response of goods may be checked through a questionnaire after executing e-mailing by the host.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method of simultaneously executing post office protocol e-mailing and chatting at the same time between the sender and the receiver.

It is another object of the present invention to provide goods publicity system and method using the method of simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting at the same time between the host and the user on the Internet shopping mall thereby shortening the time to get the information of goods and executing the communication between the host and the user without a hitch.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the inventive simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting system includes a pair of web browsers of the sender and the receiver, Internet contacting units for connecting to the web browsers, an e-mail server for sending-receiving of e-mail between the sender and the receiver, and a chatting-mailing server (hereinafter, “CHmail server”) for simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting between the sender and the receiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a method of simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a goods publicity system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a goods publicity method according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

A CHmail program executing chatting-mailing at the same time according to the present invention performs operations as belows,

-   -   sending-receiving the e-mail, and     -   inserting further elements for distinction of the sender and the         receiver into the header of the e-mail.

For reference, the CHmail program have been registered as improved program on Dec. 4, 2000 in Korea by the applicant.

On the header of the e-mail, a log-in ID of the CHmail server, an IP address/host name of a computer of the e-mail sender, and a port number are included, and then the CHmail server comprises a first database in which a table having the log-in ID, and the IP address/host name are stored and a second database in which another table having the port number, the log-in ID are stored.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a method of simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the method of simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting according to the present invention comprises the steps of framing e-mail after turning on the CHmail program (S101), endowing a port number by the CHmail server (S103), sending the e-mail to the receiver (S105), attempting a chat to the sender by the e-mail receiver (S107), confirming a response of the chat receiver (S109), and chatting between the e-mail sender and the receiver using chat client programs in each computer of them (S111).

When there is no response of the chat receiver (the e-mail sender) for a chat attempt by the chat sender, the above-captioned method further comprises the steps of confirming on/off status of the computer of the chat receiver (S113), successively attempting chatting when the computer of the chat receiver is an “on status” (S115), and automatically alarming the chat attempt to the chat receiver through the CHmail server when the computer of the chat receiver is an “off status” (S117).

On the other hand, in the above chatting-to-mailing process according to the present invention, it is possible to execute mailing-to-mailing process.

Hereinafter, a detailed description in the above-identified steps will be explained.

Firstly, the e-mail sender and the e-mail receiver register each log-in ID through the CHmail server and download the CHmail program from an Internet site on which the CHmail program is provided. Further, the e-mail sender drive the CHmail program thereby forming the first database by automatically registering the log-in ID and the IP address/host name through the CHmail server. At this time, the IP address/host name of the log-in ID is automatically updated at the CHmail server when the CHmail program is driven. Namely, if the IP address/host name of the log-in ID is changed, the IP address/host name of the first database of the CHmail server is updated. As a result, the first database have the IP address/host name used in the most recent log-in ID.

Secondly, the e-mail sender get the port number to drive the chat server program by inputting the log-in ID to the CHmail server thereby forming the second database of the CHmail server. As a result, the IP address/host name used in the most recent log-in ID of the other party is recognized by only the port number.

Thirdly, the e-mail sender sends the e-mail having the header on which the log-in ID, the port number, and the IP address/host name are provided. After that, the e-mail receiver push the chat button if he want to chat with the e-mail sender. At this time, the CHmail program starts the the chat server program corresponding to the port number by sending the log-in ID and the port number in the header of the e-mail to the CHmail server, and then the CHmail program automatically display the chat clients program onto the computers of the e-mail sender and receiver.

While, if the e-mail sender is not in the actual spot, the CHmail server informs the chat attempt to the e-mail sender using such as an alarm onto the computer when the chat clients program is automatically displayed.

Furthermore, so as to reduce an interference of the CHmail server, if the IP address/host name is an accessible address by searching the first and second databases at the same time, the chat server program is started by the computer of the e-mail sender, and then the chat clients programs of the e-mail sender and receiver are displayed on the computers at the same time. In this case, it is possible to reduce the interference of the CHmail server because of removing of calling the chat server program on the CHmail server.

Referring the foregoing, a function of the CHmail server is divided into sub functions of, granting the port number, giving the most recent IP address/host name used in the log-in ID, starting the chat server program appropriating to the granted port number on the CHmail server or the computer of the e-mail sender, and displaying the chat clients programs on the computers of the e-mail sender and receiver at the same time.

By the above embodiment, the communication between the e-mail sender and receiver is executed only on the personal computer, another communication using a voice or a picture may be used in other embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

On the other hand, if the e-mail sender sent the e-mail to a receiver of C.C. (carbon copy) as well as the e-mail receiver, it is possible that the communication between the e-mail sender and receiver is executed together with the receiver of C.C. at the same time.

Hereinafter, goods publicity system and method using the method of simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting at the same time between the host and the user Internet shopping mall according to the present invention will be explained in detail.

Goods publicity system using simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting at the same time between the host and the user according to the present invention comprises:

web browsers of the user and the host;

Internet contacting units for connecting the web browsers of the user and the host;

at least one web server connected to the web browsers of the user and the host for communicating between the user and the host;

a CHmail server for e-mailing and/or chatting between the user and the host;

a first database including a table having the log-in ID and the most recent IP address/host name;

a second database including a table having the port number, the log-in ID of CHmail server;

a member database having an information of the user;

an advertisement database having a plurality of advertisement information; and

a network protective system.

Goods publicity method using simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting at the same time between the host and the user according to the above system comprises the steps of:

contacting to an Internet shopping mall by the user;

confirming the user whether he is shopping mall member or not;

registering the user as the member if he is not the member;

sending the e-mail to the host using a program simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting at the same time after selecting goods;

attempting chatting with the user by the host received the e-mail using the program;

confirming a response of the user; and

chatting between the user and the host using the chat client program in each computer of them.

When there is no response of the user for a chat attempt by the host, the above-captioned method further comprises the steps of:

confirming on/off status of the computer of the user; successively attempting chatting when the computer of the user is an “on status”; and

automatically alarming the chat attempt to the user when the computer of the user is an “off status”.

At this time, it is assumed that the user and the host are using the program simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting at the same time according to the present invention.

Furthermore, it is possible to change parts of the user and the host from each other, namely in the above step. S207, the e-mail may be sent by the host using a program simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting at the same time to the user for goods publicity. In this case, the user may attempt the chat with the host, and except for this point, the communication between the user and the host is executed under the same type of the above-identified steps.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing goods publicity system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, goods publicity system according to the present invention comprises web browsers of the user and the host 10, 20, an Internet contacting units 30 for contacting the web browsers of the user and the host 10, 20, at least one web server 40 connected to the web browsers of the user and the host 10, 20 for communicating between the user and the host, a CHmail server 50 for e-mailing and/or chatting between the user and the host, a first database 60 including a table having the log-in ID, and the most recent IP address/host name, a second database 70 including a table having the port number, the log-in ID of CHmail server, a member database 80 having an information of the user, an advertisement database 90 having a plurality of advertisement information, and a network protective system 100.

The web browsers 10, 20 display any data such as an advertisement on the computers of the user and the host.

The Internet contacting units 30 is a control mean including on-line means such as a modem, and a dedicated line, or wireless means such as a mobile telephone, a notebook computer, and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants).

The web server 40 identifies whether the user is member through an user information from the member database 80 in case of inputting an user discernment information by the user and transmits an advertisement data from the advertisement database 90 to the web browsers 10.

The CHmail server 50 grants the port number and gives the most recent IP address/host name used in the log-in ID and starts the chat server program appropriating to the granted port number on the CHmail server or the computer of the e-mail sender (the user or the host) and displays the chat clients programs on the computers of the user and host at the same time.

The first database 60 includes a table having the log-in ID, and the most recent IP address/host name, the second database 70 includes a table having the port number, the log-in ID of CHmail server,

The member database 80 has the user information and an use particular to the Internet shopping mall.

The advertisement database 90 has a plurality of advertisements provided by a plurality of member companies and supports displaying of the advertisement data onto the personal computer of the user.

The network protective system 100 prevents an inner system from an outer trouble and prevents the user information from the information drain.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing goods publicity method according to the present invention.

Goods publicity method according to the inventive system will be explained in detail hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 3, firstly, the user contacts to the Internet shopping mall through the web server 40 after contacting to the Internet by using the Internet contacting units 30 including on-line means such as the modem, and the dedicated line, or wireless means such as the mobile telephone, the notebook computer, and the PDA (S201). After that, the user goes through an identification whether he is shopping mall member or not (S203), if he is not the member, the user have to become a member (S205).

Secondly, the user as the member sends the e-mail to the host of the Internet shopping mall after selecting goods (S207), and then the host attempts to chat with the user (S209) and chats with the user after confirming a response of the user (S211, S213). If there is no response of the user for a chat attempt by the host, the host confirms that the computer of the user is on status or off status (S215). After that, the host successively attempts to chat if the computer of the user is an “on status” (S217), or the host have let make to alarm the computer of the user automatically alarming if the computer of the user is an “off status” (S219).

Of course, it is possible to change parts of the user and the host from each other, namely, chatting attempt may be executed by the user to get goods information.

In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to hold any information by simultaneously executing e-mailing and chatting at the same time between the e-mail sender and the e-mail receiver.

In addition, according to the inventive goods publicity system and method, it is possible to shorten the time to get the information of goods and get a correct information of goods and execute the communication between the host and the user without a hitch.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.

It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A system of simultaneously executing chatting and post office protocol e-mailing based on a response to an e-mail, the system comprising: a sender web browser and a receiver web browser; respective sender and receiver Internet contacting units associated with respective sender and receiver computers for contacting the web browsers; an e-mail server for sending and receiving an e-mail between the sender and the receiver; and a CHmail (chatting-mailing) server simultaneously executing chatting and post office protocol e-mailing between the sender and the receiver, the CHmail server enabling chatting in response to an acceptance by the receiver responding to an e-mail invitation from the sender, the e-mail invitation including a log-in ID of the CHmail server and an IP address/host name of the sender in header of the e-mail invitation, the log-in ID and IP address/host name identifying the sender. 2-5. (canceled) 